Tasman trip is deja vu

A trip across the Tasman will be a case of deja vu for one young Rotorua netballer.
Renee Tutua is one of 12 netballers off to Sydney today as part of an exchange programme between Netball Bay of Plenty and the Western Region Academy of Sport in Bathurst, Australia.
The 17-year-old started playing in Australia as a 12-year-old and since returning to New Zealand three years ago has been a regular Bay of Plenty representative.
The Bay squad will take part in a six-day coaching programme at the New South Wales sports academy, during which they will be coached by former Australian assistant coach Lisa Beehag who now coaches the Sydney Swifts.
Renee, who plays midcourt, developed a healthy respect for Australian netballers while living there and is looking forward to going back.
"They are great players so I'm looking forward to playing with them and being coached by their top people. It can only help broaden my skills and give me a better outlook on the game. It'll help me get to where I want to go in netball."
Where she wants to go is right to the top - the Silver Ferns.
The Bay programme, featuring players from throughout the Bay of Plenty, aims to develop up and coming players between the ages of 15 to 17.
Renee's father Kevin Tutua said he had noticed positive changes both on and off the court since his daughter had been involved with Netball Bay of Plenty.
"It's been great for her self esteem. I think it's to do with the friends she hangs around with and all the positive influences."
Netball Bay of Plenty chief executive Sheryl Dawson said the benefits of the exchange for netball in the region were already becoming apparent. Young players were improving their skills, the Bay's under 17 and 19 teams were improving in their national standings and several players who went to Australia on the first exchange were now being identified as potential National Bank Cup players.
The trips are funded by Netball Bay of Plenty but Dawson hopes in future, the scheme will attract sponsorship.
This year is the second time the Bay has sent a group to the Australian academy with groups from there coming to the Bay every second year.
* The team going to Bathurst: Tracey Braddock, Tauranga, midcourt; Amy Christophers, Tauranga, defence; Ashley Clark, Rotorua, defence; Alex Edge, Tauranga, midcourt/defence; Jaimee Frew, Tauranga, shooter; Kelly Groot, Reporoa, shooter; Sarah Lord, Tauranga, defence; Lana Marsom, Tauranga, midcourt; Hayley Ratima, Rotorua, shooter; Dee-Danya Riddiford, Whakatane, shooter; Awhina Savage, Tauranga, midcourt; Renee Tutua, Rotorua, midcourt. Tour leader, Katie Simmons, Netball Bay of Plenty; manager, Sue Brown, Tauranga; coach, Tui Pukepuke, Rotorua; umpire, Louise Macdonald, Whakatane.